Sankethi Brahmin

Sankethi people
Total population
c. 25,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Sanskrit, Kannada, Sankethi
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Tamils, Kannadigas

The Sankethi people are a South Indian Smartha Brahmin[2] community located in Karnataka, India, mostly in villages in the south of the state. They speak a Dravidian language known as Sankethi, which is related to Tamil and Kannada.[3] Their traditional occupation is agriculture, engaging in the cultivation of crops such as areca nuts (also known as betel nuts), palm nuts, bananas, and coconuts. The community has traditionally adhered to Advaita Vedanta and maintains the ancient practice of avadhanam, as well as having a long tradition in Carnatic classical music.

The two largest Sankethi groups initially settled predominantly in Kowshika village near Hassan, Karnataka and Bettadapura, Mysore district, and becoming the Kaushika and the Bettadapura communities, respectively.[4]

  1. ^ Satish, DP. "Karnataka: Brahmins Sacrifice Sheep, Drink Country Liquor at Yajna". News18.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Nagaraja, K.S. (1982). "Tense in Sanketi Tamila Comparative Note". Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute. 41: 126–129. JSTOR 42931419.
  4. ^ Chatterjee, Rajeswari (2003). Lifescapes of India: Religions, Customs, and Laws of India (PDF). Frandsen Humanities Press. p. 45. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.